Turmeric is dried root that grows about 2 feet in length. The turmeric plant is about 3 feet long with funnel-shaped yellow flowers. Turmeric is bright yellow in color. It has an earthy aromatic and spicy fragrance with slightly bitter flavor. Turmeric is an important spice in India having great religious significance.
Turmeric is used as coloring agent. It is used to color as well as flavor prepared pickles, relish, chutneys and rice dishes. Turmeric is combined with almost every dish in India. It is also combined in rice dishes. It is a very important ingredient of curry powders. It is also used in stews and curries.
Turmeric, an orange-colored spice imported from India, is part the ginger family and has been a staple in Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian cooking for thousands of years.
In addition, ayurvedic and Chinese medicines utilize turmeric to clear infections and inflammations on the inside and outside of the body. But beyond the holistic health community, Western medical practitioners have only recently come on board in recognizing the benefits of turmeric.
Powerful antioxidant
The University of Maryland’s Medical Center also states that turmeric’s powerful antioxidant properties fight cancer-causing free radicals, reducing or preventing some of the damage they can cause.
While more research is necessary, early studies have indicated that curcumin may help prevent or treat several types of cancer including prostate, skin and colon.
While many of us are aware of the numerous benefits of this deep, exotic yellow spice, few incorporate turmeric in our daily use, other than sprinkling a little of it in our daal and subzi. Turmeric, a member of the ginger family, has been used for healing by Ayurvedic means, since time immemorial. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties, and is an excellent antiseptic. In addition, it is great for the skin. So before investing in an expensive beauty product, take a look in your kitchen.
The turmeric you get in packets is not the pure form, which is why it is best that you try and find someone who supplies pure turmeric powder, or use the root and make your own paste.
Origin And General Information
Latin Name : Curcuma longa
Turmeric is also known as Curcumin and Indian Saffron.
It is called Haldi in India
Turmeric is a perennial herbaceous plant native to South Asia including India.
The plant needs good rainfall and hot and humid climate to grow. But waterlogging kills it. Hence proper removal of extra water has to be ensured.
India is the world's largest producer and exporter of turmeric. It grows 90% of the world's turmeric output. Nizamabad in Andhra Pradesh state of India is called the 'Turmeric city' as it is the biggest turmeric producing city in the world as also the most important centre of turmeric trade. Sangli in Maharastra state of India is the 2nd most important trading centre for turmeric in Asia.
Fresh turmeric is used little and root is the part that is used as a spice and mostly in ground form. When ground, turmeric is a bright yellow coloured, warm and bitter flavoured spice.
Turmeric is an integral part of Indian, Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines. Indian cooking uses turmeric in almost every meal.
Nutrients In Turmeric
Turmeric has zero cholesterol, is rich in antioxidants and fiber. It is a rich source of Vitamin B6, choline ,niacin, riboflavin. The fresh root is high in vitamin C. It is an excellent source of iron and manganese and a good source of potassium, copper, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc.
Turmeric also contains many phytonutrients and essential oils like termerone, curlone, curumen, cineole and p-cymene.
Health Benefits Of Turmeric
The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin which benefits in a wide number of diseases.
Turmeric benefits in epilepsy and bleeding problems, in various skin diseases and respiratory diseases.
Turmeric reduces fevers, diarrhoea, urinary problems, poisoning etc.
Ulcers respond well to external application of turmeric. It removes pus and watery discharges like leucorrhoea.
Turmeric benefits in detoxifying the liver, regularises cholesterol levels, stimulates digestion, fights allergies and boosts immunity.
Turmeric reduces inflammations, makes the blood thin, neutralises free radicals which makes it especially beneficial in arthritic conditions.
Turmeric benefits the female reproductive system and uterus, breast milk, increases and purifies the semen.
Turmeric improves mental functions and is neuroprotective, reduces insanity, protects in brain affections ,stroke and alzheimer's.
Turmeric is also available in capsule form.
Uses Of Turmeric In Specific Health Conditions
In Cracks Of Hands & Feet
Add salt to reasonably hot water and keep the affected hand or feet dipped in this water for 15 minutes.
Grind raw papaya. Add mustard oil about 1/4 th weight of the ground papaya. Also, add 2 tbsp turmeric. Cook this well and make a poultice. Tie it on the affected area. Continue for 2 to 3 days.
Add turmeric powder to unboiled milk and massage for preventing cracks. Putting turmeric in the cracks heals them.
For Injuries
On sustaining an injury, drink a glass of hot milk to which 1 tsp turmeric has been added. It relieves pain & swelling. A paste of turmeric and water should also be applied on the injury.
Take 2 tsp turmeric powder, 4 tsp wheat flour, 1 tsp desi ghee and 1/2 tsp rock salt. Add little water and cook this mixture. After it's done, cool suitably and apply this mixture on the injury.
In Dental Diseases
Mix turmeric, salt and mustard oil. Brush the teeth and gums with this mix daily to strengthen the teeth.
Roast turmeric well, then grind it fine. Massage the painful teeth with this for relief from pain.
In Gas
When there is accumulation of gas in the abdomen, swallow a mixture of 5 gms turmeric and salt with hot water.
For Wounds
Mix turmeric in ghee or oil. Heat this. Use this as a warm dressing for the wound to heal faster.
In Cough
Drink a mixture of turmeric powder and salt mixed in hot water. One can also suck a piece of turmeric.
In cases of chronic cough, add 1/4 tsp turmeric powder to 1/2 tsp honey and lick this.
In cough with expectoration, take hot milk to which 1/2 tsp turmeric has been added.
In Asthma & Cough
Roast turmeric and grind. Take 1/2 tsp of this turmeric powder and mix with 1 tsp honey. Lick twice a day.
Boil 1 tsp turmeric powder in a cup of milk. Drink hot.
For Acne
Take 1/4 tsp turmeric, 1/4 tsp black sesame seeds. Make a paste of these with milk and apply on the face for a few minutes daily.
In Diabetes
In case of frequent urination and excessive thirst, take 8 gms turmeric powder with water twice a day or mix with honey and lick.
In Diarrhoea
Take 1/2 tsp turmeric 3 times daily, with water.
In Burns
Mix 1 tsp Aloe gel in 1 tsp turmeric powder & apply on the burn.
For Anaemia
Take 1 tsp turmeric powder mixed with 1 tsp honey daily.
For Clear Complexion
Mix turmeric powder with water to make a paste. Apply at night. Wash off after 10 minutes.
Liver Protection
Turmeric help in minimizing liver damages caused by taking excess alcohol regularly or using pain-killer.
Arthiritis
Turmeric help relieve wound inflammation and in treating arthritis.
Heart Protection
Turmeric helps in reducing cholesterol
WOUND, BRUISES and SPRAIN:
1. Apply bit of turmeric on cuts and scrapes after washing them with cold water.
2. Take 1 tsp turmeric powder with hot milk.
3. Make a bandage of the following things and apply on the wound: mix 4 tsp flour, 2 tsp turmeric powder, 1tsp pur ghee, 1/2 tsp sendha namak (non refined salt) with water.
4. Take 500ml of water and boil it with 1 tsp sendha namak and 1 tsp turmeric powder. Give fomentation to the bruised part with a cloth soaked in this water. This will help get rid of pain and swelling in that region.
5. Dusting turmeric powder on wounds also helps in relieving the pain and swelling.
SKIN PROBLEMS:
1. Apply the paste of turmeric and sesame oil on body to prevent eruptions.
2. To avoid any kind of skin problems apply turmeric paste before a bath.
3. To cure itching take roasted turmeric with jaggery.
4. To eliminate freckles and spots rub ground turmeric on stone with the help of water and then apply this paste on skin.
5. You can also make a paste of ground turmeric with milk of banyan or pipal and soak it overnight and then apply it for 1 hour before bath. This will help in removing freckles and also give glow to the face.
6. Make a pudding of 2 tsp flour with 1 tsp ghee and 1 tsp turmeric, 2 tsp sugar and 1 cup water and take this in the morning it will halp in curing Utricaria.
Jyotish and Wellness of Haldi
Some of the best Jyotish remedies are found in our kitchen! Isn't that interesting? So, which food brings us luck, fortune and a healthy and prosperous life? Which food item, we need to eat to strengthen or appease a particular planet in our vedic charts? Read on to know about your 'kismet ki thaali'...
Turmeric (Haldi): is one of the easiest and best remedies to cure the problems created by the planet Jupiter and also, to strengthen it. If this planet is bad in your chart, do "Haldi Chawal daan". If it is positive but weak, take a pinch of haldi and mix in a glass of milk and drink it daily. A pinch of this haldi is believed to strengthen Jupiter to a great extent. Yes, Jupiter, the planet of knowledge, wisdom, marriage, good family life, education, wealth and so on. Haldi is used in our country for more than 2600 years now, and is the world's first anti-septic and anti-bacterial agent.
Haldi Ubtan (Paste of turmeric, using haldi, milk, etc) is applied on a girl who's going to be married, to strengthen Jupiter. One should, apply haldi in day to day life also, on face to have a glow as well as to gain the benefits provided by Jupiter.
If Jupiter is bad in the chart, then marriage will not be very fruitful, you might also have dry skin and probably, decay of some organ of the body. In that case, also, do Haldi chawal daan and apply Haldi paste on skin. If you catch up with cold frequently, then in a glass of milk, mix 25 gm haldi and some mishri and drink it often. If Jupiter sits in 1st, 3rd, 7th or 11th house of the chart, hormonal problems can arise, for that, again, drink Milk mixed with a pinch of Haldi. If it is bad and powerful at the same time, Jaundice may occur. In that case, do Haldi daan and eat haldi mixed in milk as well.
Turmeric (Haldi) Mala :
It is the symbol of Brahma and blessed by Lakshmi. It englightens the super consciousness, provides improved concentration and mental structure changes specifically to renunciation from worldly affair. The wearer enjoys all comforts at his command but still remains unattached. Recommended for Headache, Heart Diseases and Right Eye Defect.